Chapter 12
Vince pulled up in front of the house a little after seven. He had been gone for most of the day, but he didn't care. He only came home because he knew Mia would want him there for dinner.
Vince sat through the meal in silence. He wasn't in the mood for polite conversation.
Since this was nothing new no one spoke to him either.
He did notice she wasn't at the table. Why isn't she eating dinner too? Shouldn't she be eating? It's not good for her to. Fuck! God damn it! I don't care! He thought frustrated at himself for thinking about her again.
Vince scowled at the table. He didn't care if she came down and ate or not.
Half way through dinner he watched Mia prepare a plate and take it upstairs. That's right. I
don't care if she eats, he told himself.
He frowned when he saw Mia come back down a few minutes later. The food was still on the plate. Mia lifted her head and looked at him. Vince turned away quickly and scowled at the wall.
I don't care. Remember that, he thought.
Brian saw Vince look away from Mia. He turned and watched as Mia dumped the food on the plate into the trash. She looked and saw Brian. She shrugged. Brian sighed inwardly.
He really should go up and make sure Claire eats something, but he didn't want to fight with her. Brain knew if he went upstairs they would end up arguing and that's the last thing she needs right now.
He decided to just leave things alone for now.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next morning Vince walked into the kitchen to see everyone helping to make breakfast.
"Oh good you're finally up. Can you set the table please?" Mia asked him as she flipped some bacon on the stove.
Vince didn't answer but did as she asked. When he was done he poured himself a cup of coffee. He looked around and noticed she hadn't come down yet. He frowned. She better not be skipping breakfast too. If I gotta break down her door she's gonna eat god damn it! He told himself fiercely.
"Hey V, can you do me a favor?" Mia asked sweetly.
Vince smiled at her and nodded.
"Can you take a cup of coffee up to Claire and let her know breakfast will be ready in about ten minutes?"
Vince's smile faded. He scowled at her. He walked over to the coffee pot and poured another cup of coffee.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I wonder how he knows how she likes it?" Leon asked when Vince was out of earshot.
Brian looked at Leon sharply, and then looked at the doorway where Vince disappeared. Leon did have a point.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Vince approached the bedroom door cautiously. Then he scowled at himself, angry that he might be scared to knock on her door. He lifted his hand and knocked firmly. It was a minute before the door opened.
She was still sleepy and her eyelids half open. When she saw him her eyes opened wider. She looked angry.
"What do you want?" she said on a snap.
Vince scowled, but said nothing. He just handed her the cup.
Her jaw dropped when she saw the cup of steaming coffee in front of her. She closed her mouth and took the cup. She looked apologetic, but didn't say anything.
Vince didn't want to hear it anyway. "Breakfast in ten minutes. You're coming down to eat with us, otherwise I'm coming back up and bringing you down," he stated in a 'don't mess with me' tone, and then left.
Claire glared at Vince's retreating back. Why the hell does he care if I go downstairs or not? If I don't want to go down then I won't. I'll stay up here all day if I want, she told herself tightly.
So she didn't know why she found herself making her way downstairs just after Vince left. I just don't feel like making a scene in front of everyone, she told herself single-mindedly.
"What? Do I have something on my face?" she asked when she walked into the kitchen.
Everyone had turned and stared at her wide-eyed. Her face was still badly bruised.
"Jeez, relax. I was just kidding. What's for breakfast?" Claire asked lightly.
There was a collective sigh of relief. Mia smiled at her. "Sit down. We made pancakes and eggs," she said.
Claire smiled back, "oh good. I'm starving." She said, thou in fact she really didn't want to eat. Claire pretended to eat, only spoke when she was spoken too. She laughed when it was called for. No one was the wiser or so she thought. Claire glanced at Vince and realized he was watching her intently. Her eyes widened slightly. He knows, she thought. He knew she was putting up a front. She stared back defiantly. So what. Claire turned her attention back to the food she wasn't eating, but pushing around on her plate.
After breakfast Mia shooed her out of the kitchen. Not letting her help with the dishes. Claire didn't protest. She didn't really want to be in the kitchen around prying eyes anyway.
She went up to her room quickly, ignoring Brian's calls for her from the living room.
Leon watched as Brian frowned at his sister. "What's up with her bro?" Leon asked gently.
Brian turned around and sat down on the couch, looking defeated.
"I think she's mad at me." Brain said, without looking up.
Leon frowned, confused. "Why? What did you do?" he asked.
Brian looked a bit self-conscious. "I said something stupid."
Leon didn't push it any further. It was obvious Brain didn't want to talk about it anymore. Leon glanced at Vince, who didn't notice. Vince was staring at the stairs where Claire had disappeared. Leon gave a small smile. He had a feeling Vince was being quiet for reasons he didn't want anyone to know, the main one being he was having feelings for Claire in a major way.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Claire stared at the ceiling. I really should put a picture there. Give myself something to look at, she mused. It seemed to be her past time of late. Stare at the ceiling and pretend she wasn't angry.
She hated herself. She hated that she was angry with Brian. She hated Vince. She hated herself because she was letting Vince affect her in a way that he shouldn't. She hated Brian because through no fault of his own he left her alone. She had to learn to live with out him. Since she's spent most of her life with him it was hard to adjust. She hated Vince because he wasn't there in time to stop Sam. She knew it was stupid. She knew if she had waited at work she would have been fine. Claire looked angrily at the ceiling. She had no right to assume Vince would there, but she wanted him to be and that's what pissed her off the most. Might as well face it. I'm falling for him. God damn it! Why couldn't it have been Leon? He's nice. He knows how to talk. It's not too complicated for him to say more than two syllables, she thought glumly.
Claire sighed. Leon was handsome, but he didn't cause her breath to catch whenever he walked into the room. Leon's voice didn't cause a rumble deep below her skin the way Vince's did. Claire couldn't imagine what she would do with Leon. He didn't make her feel the way Vince did. He didn't cause her heart to skip a beat like it did when Vince looked at her. Claire growled loudly at the ceiling. I wish I never volunteered to bring his 'stubborn, I'm not talking to her just because she's Brian's sister' ass here. I should have left him on the goddamn highway! She thought viciously.
Claire rolled over and curled into a ball. Determined not to get up all day.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"V, we're goin out. There are a couple more garages we wanna check out." Dom told his best friend.
Vince didn't even look up from the TV. He just nodded.
Dom and Letty left through the front door after they exchanged looks with Leon.
"We're going, too. We'll be back in time to make dinner." Mia told Leon and Vince.
This time Leon didn't look up, but just said, "ok. See you guys later."
Vince watched Mia and Brain leave with narrowed eyes. When they were gone he turned his attention back to the TV. After an hour of watching TV Leon rose from the couch.
"I gotta go too. I'm taking Daisy out and then we're gonna go somewhere for lunch. Make sure you stay with Claire." Leon instructed as if Vince were a child.
Vince looked up at Leon with a dark glare, and then went back to the TV.
Leon frowned. "Come on V. Just give me your word you won't leave Claire alone."
Vince scowled up at Leon. "I won't leave her alone," he said reluctantly.
Leon nodded satisfied, and then left as well.
Vince sat staring at the TV, but not really watching it. I don't want to sit in this house all day damn it. I need to get out of here. Fuck Dom better hurry up and decide what we're gonna do as team, he thought crossly.
After a minute of sitting there Vince got up and headed up the stairs determinedly. He knocked on Claire's bedroom door quickly.
"Get dressed. We're going out." he told her firmly after she opened her door. Then headed towards Leon's 'room' where he kept his clothes.
Claire looked hard at his retreating back. I don't want to go out. I'm staying here, she told herself determinedly. She went back into her room and shut the door, locking it behind her.
Vince walked into the living room taken back to see Claire sitting on the couch dressed and ready to go. He didn't say anything, just gestured for her to leave first. He watched her walk to the car silently. His body heat flared when he saw her wearing denim shorts that just barely covered her rear. She had on a white t-shirt that fell just above the waistline of her shorts and white Adidas on her feet. She wore light make-up to hide the worst of the bruises. She left her hair down and it was still damp. He almost yelled at her to go up and change, but held himself in check. He didn't care what she wore. She didn't affect him. I don't care. I don't like her and I definitely don't want her, he thought determinedly.
She climbed into the passenger side.
Vince looked at her. She raised her eyes brows.
What? I thought a big tough guy like you would want to drive. Oh wait you're not suppose to drive. Damn it, she thought. She felt stupid because she forgot. He had no problems driving home the other day; just how long did he plan to be out.
Vince waited until she moved over to the driver's seat then climbed in. He handed her the keys.
"Where to master?" she mumbled under her breath.
Vince looked at her sharply.
Claire smiled at him sweetly, "Where do you wanna go?" she repeated.
Vince said nothing about hearing what she said. He wasn't supposed to leave her alone. It was too bad if she didn't like it.
"Just drive around. I'll tell you when to stop," he informed her.
Claire shrugged and did as he instructed.
Vince pulled up in front of the house a little after seven. He had been gone for most of the day, but he didn't care. He only came home because he knew Mia would want him there for dinner.
Vince sat through the meal in silence. He wasn't in the mood for polite conversation.
Since this was nothing new no one spoke to him either.
He did notice she wasn't at the table. Why isn't she eating dinner too? Shouldn't she be eating? It's not good for her to. Fuck! God damn it! I don't care! He thought frustrated at himself for thinking about her again.
Vince scowled at the table. He didn't care if she came down and ate or not.
Half way through dinner he watched Mia prepare a plate and take it upstairs. That's right. I
don't care if she eats, he told himself.
He frowned when he saw Mia come back down a few minutes later. The food was still on the plate. Mia lifted her head and looked at him. Vince turned away quickly and scowled at the wall.
I don't care. Remember that, he thought.
Brian saw Vince look away from Mia. He turned and watched as Mia dumped the food on the plate into the trash. She looked and saw Brian. She shrugged. Brian sighed inwardly.
He really should go up and make sure Claire eats something, but he didn't want to fight with her. Brain knew if he went upstairs they would end up arguing and that's the last thing she needs right now.
He decided to just leave things alone for now.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next morning Vince walked into the kitchen to see everyone helping to make breakfast.
"Oh good you're finally up. Can you set the table please?" Mia asked him as she flipped some bacon on the stove.
Vince didn't answer but did as she asked. When he was done he poured himself a cup of coffee. He looked around and noticed she hadn't come down yet. He frowned. She better not be skipping breakfast too. If I gotta break down her door she's gonna eat god damn it! He told himself fiercely.
"Hey V, can you do me a favor?" Mia asked sweetly.
Vince smiled at her and nodded.
"Can you take a cup of coffee up to Claire and let her know breakfast will be ready in about ten minutes?"
Vince's smile faded. He scowled at her. He walked over to the coffee pot and poured another cup of coffee.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I wonder how he knows how she likes it?" Leon asked when Vince was out of earshot.
Brian looked at Leon sharply, and then looked at the doorway where Vince disappeared. Leon did have a point.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Vince approached the bedroom door cautiously. Then he scowled at himself, angry that he might be scared to knock on her door. He lifted his hand and knocked firmly. It was a minute before the door opened.
She was still sleepy and her eyelids half open. When she saw him her eyes opened wider. She looked angry.
"What do you want?" she said on a snap.
Vince scowled, but said nothing. He just handed her the cup.
Her jaw dropped when she saw the cup of steaming coffee in front of her. She closed her mouth and took the cup. She looked apologetic, but didn't say anything.
Vince didn't want to hear it anyway. "Breakfast in ten minutes. You're coming down to eat with us, otherwise I'm coming back up and bringing you down," he stated in a 'don't mess with me' tone, and then left.
Claire glared at Vince's retreating back. Why the hell does he care if I go downstairs or not? If I don't want to go down then I won't. I'll stay up here all day if I want, she told herself tightly.
So she didn't know why she found herself making her way downstairs just after Vince left. I just don't feel like making a scene in front of everyone, she told herself single-mindedly.
"What? Do I have something on my face?" she asked when she walked into the kitchen.
Everyone had turned and stared at her wide-eyed. Her face was still badly bruised.
"Jeez, relax. I was just kidding. What's for breakfast?" Claire asked lightly.
There was a collective sigh of relief. Mia smiled at her. "Sit down. We made pancakes and eggs," she said.
Claire smiled back, "oh good. I'm starving." She said, thou in fact she really didn't want to eat. Claire pretended to eat, only spoke when she was spoken too. She laughed when it was called for. No one was the wiser or so she thought. Claire glanced at Vince and realized he was watching her intently. Her eyes widened slightly. He knows, she thought. He knew she was putting up a front. She stared back defiantly. So what. Claire turned her attention back to the food she wasn't eating, but pushing around on her plate.
After breakfast Mia shooed her out of the kitchen. Not letting her help with the dishes. Claire didn't protest. She didn't really want to be in the kitchen around prying eyes anyway.
She went up to her room quickly, ignoring Brian's calls for her from the living room.
Leon watched as Brian frowned at his sister. "What's up with her bro?" Leon asked gently.
Brian turned around and sat down on the couch, looking defeated.
"I think she's mad at me." Brain said, without looking up.
Leon frowned, confused. "Why? What did you do?" he asked.
Brian looked a bit self-conscious. "I said something stupid."
Leon didn't push it any further. It was obvious Brain didn't want to talk about it anymore. Leon glanced at Vince, who didn't notice. Vince was staring at the stairs where Claire had disappeared. Leon gave a small smile. He had a feeling Vince was being quiet for reasons he didn't want anyone to know, the main one being he was having feelings for Claire in a major way.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Claire stared at the ceiling. I really should put a picture there. Give myself something to look at, she mused. It seemed to be her past time of late. Stare at the ceiling and pretend she wasn't angry.
She hated herself. She hated that she was angry with Brian. She hated Vince. She hated herself because she was letting Vince affect her in a way that he shouldn't. She hated Brian because through no fault of his own he left her alone. She had to learn to live with out him. Since she's spent most of her life with him it was hard to adjust. She hated Vince because he wasn't there in time to stop Sam. She knew it was stupid. She knew if she had waited at work she would have been fine. Claire looked angrily at the ceiling. She had no right to assume Vince would there, but she wanted him to be and that's what pissed her off the most. Might as well face it. I'm falling for him. God damn it! Why couldn't it have been Leon? He's nice. He knows how to talk. It's not too complicated for him to say more than two syllables, she thought glumly.
Claire sighed. Leon was handsome, but he didn't cause her breath to catch whenever he walked into the room. Leon's voice didn't cause a rumble deep below her skin the way Vince's did. Claire couldn't imagine what she would do with Leon. He didn't make her feel the way Vince did. He didn't cause her heart to skip a beat like it did when Vince looked at her. Claire growled loudly at the ceiling. I wish I never volunteered to bring his 'stubborn, I'm not talking to her just because she's Brian's sister' ass here. I should have left him on the goddamn highway! She thought viciously.
Claire rolled over and curled into a ball. Determined not to get up all day.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"V, we're goin out. There are a couple more garages we wanna check out." Dom told his best friend.
Vince didn't even look up from the TV. He just nodded.
Dom and Letty left through the front door after they exchanged looks with Leon.
"We're going, too. We'll be back in time to make dinner." Mia told Leon and Vince.
This time Leon didn't look up, but just said, "ok. See you guys later."
Vince watched Mia and Brain leave with narrowed eyes. When they were gone he turned his attention back to the TV. After an hour of watching TV Leon rose from the couch.
"I gotta go too. I'm taking Daisy out and then we're gonna go somewhere for lunch. Make sure you stay with Claire." Leon instructed as if Vince were a child.
Vince looked up at Leon with a dark glare, and then went back to the TV.
Leon frowned. "Come on V. Just give me your word you won't leave Claire alone."
Vince scowled up at Leon. "I won't leave her alone," he said reluctantly.
Leon nodded satisfied, and then left as well.
Vince sat staring at the TV, but not really watching it. I don't want to sit in this house all day damn it. I need to get out of here. Fuck Dom better hurry up and decide what we're gonna do as team, he thought crossly.
After a minute of sitting there Vince got up and headed up the stairs determinedly. He knocked on Claire's bedroom door quickly.
"Get dressed. We're going out." he told her firmly after she opened her door. Then headed towards Leon's 'room' where he kept his clothes.
Claire looked hard at his retreating back. I don't want to go out. I'm staying here, she told herself determinedly. She went back into her room and shut the door, locking it behind her.
Vince walked into the living room taken back to see Claire sitting on the couch dressed and ready to go. He didn't say anything, just gestured for her to leave first. He watched her walk to the car silently. His body heat flared when he saw her wearing denim shorts that just barely covered her rear. She had on a white t-shirt that fell just above the waistline of her shorts and white Adidas on her feet. She wore light make-up to hide the worst of the bruises. She left her hair down and it was still damp. He almost yelled at her to go up and change, but held himself in check. He didn't care what she wore. She didn't affect him. I don't care. I don't like her and I definitely don't want her, he thought determinedly.
She climbed into the passenger side.
Vince looked at her. She raised her eyes brows.
What? I thought a big tough guy like you would want to drive. Oh wait you're not suppose to drive. Damn it, she thought. She felt stupid because she forgot. He had no problems driving home the other day; just how long did he plan to be out.
Vince waited until she moved over to the driver's seat then climbed in. He handed her the keys.
"Where to master?" she mumbled under her breath.
Vince looked at her sharply.
Claire smiled at him sweetly, "Where do you wanna go?" she repeated.
Vince said nothing about hearing what she said. He wasn't supposed to leave her alone. It was too bad if she didn't like it.
"Just drive around. I'll tell you when to stop," he informed her.
Claire shrugged and did as he instructed.